The European Commission has significantly increased its legal scrutiny of Cyprus, issuing a formal directive demanding immediate action on critical security and surveillance gaps at its two main international airports. This latest development, termed a "reasoned opinion," highlights the nation's failure to fully implement essential European Union regulations. It also casts doubt upon the effectiveness of Cypriot aviation authorities in their oversight responsibilities.
This formal infringement procedure, a standard EU mechanism for ensuring member state compliance with bloc-wide legislation, has now entered its second, more serious phase. The process was initiated following a comprehensive inspection by the EU's safety agency in 2020, which had identified persistent operational issues. Despite an initial warning being dispatched to Nicosia last November, the Commission determined that sufficient corrective measures had not yet been implemented, thus prompting this escalated response.
The specific concerns are concentrated on Larnaca and Paphos airports, which serve as crucial gateways for millions of international tourists each year. The Commission's detailed opinion indicates that Cypriot authorities have not guaranteed the airport operator's strict adherence to mandated EU security protocols. Critically, the operational manuals governing airport activities, including vital rescue and firefighting services, have been found to be non-compliant. Furthermore, the Commission has expressed considerable reservations regarding the structural capacity of the Cypriot civil aviation department itself. It suggests that the department may lack an adequate number of qualified personnel across essential technical domains to effectively discharge its regulatory duties.
A statement released by the Commission clearly articulated these dual failings, noting Cyprus had "failed to ensure … that the airport operator of Larnaca and Paphos airports correctly complies with all applicable EU requirements in their respective airport manuals, including those relating to rescue and firefighting services". It also separately indicated concerns about whether the civil aviation department in Cyprus possesses sufficient qualified staff in all required technical areas to effectively perform its oversight tasks related to the airports.
The issuance of this reasoned opinion provides the Cypriot government with a critical two-month period to develop and communicate a comprehensive remedial plan. If the Commission finds the proposed response to be unsatisfactory, the case may be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union, potentially leading to substantial financial penalties. This situation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened regional security awareness. Earlier this year, Israeli airlines El Al and Arkia temporarily suspended flights to Paphos following security advisories from Israeli intelligence agencies. An Israeli naval vessel was also reportedly stationed near Larnaca airport's runway, underscoring the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding aviation security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Cypriot government now faces a significant dual challenge: implementing swift, tangible operational improvements at its airports and simultaneously strengthening the institutional capacity and expertise of its own oversight body. The resolution of this matter will undoubtedly be closely observed by EU institutions, international partners, and the global aviation industry, for whom consistent and robust security standards remain indispensable for safe travel.